Caribbean News
CARPHA and IDB Sign Landmark Pandemic Fund Technical Cooperation Agreement for Reducing the Public Health Impact of Pandemics in the Caribbean
#Trinidad, December 15, 2023 – The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) held a landmark Public Signing Ceremony for the Pandemic Fund (PF) Technical Cooperation (TC) Agreement (“Reducing the Public Health Impact of Pandemics in the Caribbean through Prevention, Preparedness, and Response” [RG-T4387] Project) on December 14, 2023, at the Scarlet Ibis Room, Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre. The Agreement was signed by Dr. Joy St. John, Executive Director, CARPHA and Ms. Carina Cockburn, IDB Country Representative for Trinidad and Tobago.
The Pandemic Fund (PF) is the first multilateral financing mechanism dedicated to providing multiyear grants to help low- and middle-income countries become better prepared for future pandemics. The PF’s first Call for Proposals provides additional financing to strengthen prevention, preparedness and response (PPR) capabilities, and address critical gaps in countries through investments and technical support at the national, regional and global levels. It is also expected to support and reinforce capacity building and implementation of PPR under the IHR
(2005) and other frameworks, consistent with the One Health approach. [Pandemic Fund Allocates First Grants to Help Countries Be Better Prepared for Future Pandemics (worldbank.org)]
CARPHA’s regional entity proposal was successfully selected in July 2023 for the first round of PF financing, with CARPHA as the Executing Agency and IDB as the Implementing Entity. It was one of only 19 proposals selected from over 300 submissions and the only regional project. This regional project, with CARPHA as beneficiary and CARPHA Member States as the participants, serves to support CARPHA in reducing the public health impact of pandemics in the Caribbean region, whilst building pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPR) through strengthening i) disease surveillance and early warning systems (EWS), ii) laboratory systems and iii) workforce capacity, regionally at CARPHA and at country levels. Dr. Lisa Indar, Director, Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control Division is the Project lead at CARPHA and Mr. Ramiro Guerrero, Principal Sector Specialist of IDB Headquarters and Mr. Ian Ho-a-Shu, Senior Health Specialist of IDB Country Office, Trinidad and Tobago, are the leads from the IDB.
In recent years, the Caribbean region has experienced many infectious disease outbreaks, including COVID-19, Cholera, Chikungunya, Dengue, Norovirus, H1N1, Mpox, SARS and Zika, which have had profound human, economic and social impacts. Pandemic PPR needs to be improved not only at the national levels, but at the regional level, as functional regional capacities can achieve the economies of scale and necessary coordination/integration that small territories cannot achieve on their own.
The Agreement signing in December is, as a result of rigorous preparation activities by CARPHA and IDB, culminating with the IDB Board of Directors’ approval in just three months on November 15th, 2023. Remarks for this milestone event were delivered by Mr. Cassanni Laville, Chairman of the CARPHA Executive Board, and Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD), the Honourable Minister of Health, Wellness and Social Services, Dominica, Mr. Terrence Deyalsingh, Honourable Minister of Health, Trinidad and Tobago, Ms. Carina Cockburn, IDB Country Representative for Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Joy St. John, Executive Director, CARPHA, Dr. Lisa Indar, Pandemic Fund Project Director, CARPHA, Dr. Mark Sami, Director, Corporate Services and Dr. Priya Basu, Executive Head of the Pandemic Fund, with Ministers of Health, Chief Medical Officers, the Pandemic Fund Secretariat, CARPHA partners and CARPHA Divisional Management Team in attendance.
In his welcome remarks, Dr. Mark Sami, Director, Corporate Services, CARPHA, stated “The signing of this Pandemic Fund Technical Cooperation Agreement between CARPHA and the IDB represents a great milestone for this Region, as we prepare to successfully respond to public health emergencies”.
Mr. Cassanni Laville, Chairman of CARPHA’s Executive Board and the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD), and Honourable Minister of Health, Wellness and Social Services, Dominica, said “This signing signifies the start of a new phase for CARPHA, IDB and Member States as it commemorates regional collaboration and partnership as the firm foundation for the successful implementation of the Pandemic Fund grant which will support a significant body of work over a three-year period, toward the goal of reducing the public health impact of pandemics in the Caribbean region”.
Mr. Terrence Deyalsingh, Honourable Minister of Health, Trinidad and Tobago, stated “We must ensure that decisive plans are laid for future generations, which will assist in the strengthening of capacity to prevent, detect and respond to public health emergencies. Today’s historic public signing ceremony for the Pandemic Fund Technical Cooperation Agreement, is a major and fundamental step toward the attainment of these goals, as the formalisation of this agreement will allow countries in the Americas to adopt the necessary technological systems needed for emergency and early response warning systems.”
Dr. Joy St. John, Executive Director, CARPHA, shared “This signing is solidifying the formal agreement between the IDB and CARPHA, but it is only the start to what this landmark investment can do to foster sustained and effective pandemic preparedness and response in the region. CARPHA will maintain its proud legacy of implementation through engagement with its key stakeholders in such a way that we build trust within our Member States (MS). To do this, CARPHA is building a robust monitoring and evaluation framework, enforcing accountability and practicing ethically sound principles in the transparent execution of this project along with our MS and the IDB”.
Dr. Lisa Indar, Director, Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control and Project Lead remarked “This Project is especially needed in the region, as the Caribbean is uniquely characterised by small, under-resourced populations and varying surveillance, laboratory and human resource capacities. It is also highly interconnected with porous
borders, heavily reliant on tourism, and susceptible to climatic change and disasters. This combination of factors significantly increases the region’s exposure and vulnerability to pandemic risks, enabling rapid spread of highly transmissible communicable diseases. A regional approach is key, as when a public health emergency affects one of us, it affects all of us, as diseases know no boundaries”.
Ms. Carina Cockburn, IDB Country Representative for Trinidad and Tobago, noted “The IDB Country Strategy for Trinidad & Tobago (2021-2025) focuses on digital transformation, and it is fitting to see that CARPHA has prioritised the use of digital tools and technology in advancing digital health in the region.” She added, “In a few years we can expect to see some really amazing results from this operation: Laboratory networks will expand; national biosafety, biosecurity, and lab quality management will improve; and workforce capacity will be strengthened. We also look forward to seeing enhanced national and regional coordination, collaboration and information flow for detecting and managing outbreaks and regional public health emergencies across sectors and borders”.
Dr. Priya Basu, Executive Head of the Pandemic Fund at the World Bank, shared that “The Pandemic Fund is pleased to partner with CARPHA and the Inter-American Development Bank to support this important project, which holds the promise of building the Region’s resilience to future pandemics. Today’s signing marks a crucial step in our shared commitment towards global health security. “
This project is expected to begin implementation in January 2024 kicking off with a CARPHA-IDB mission and the fulfilment of the key positions in the Project Execution Unit.
CARPHA remains committed to working together with the IDB, CARPHA Member States and the Pandemic Fund to successfully implement the regional proposal geared toward reducing the public health impact of pandemics in the Caribbean.
Captions for Attached Photos:
Header: From Left to Right: Dr. Mark Sami-Corporate Services Director, CARPHA; Dr. Joy St. John, Executive Director, CARPHA; Ms. Carina Cockburn-IDB Country Representative for Trinidad and Tobago; The Honourable Minister of Health, Trinidad and Tobago-Mr. Terrence Deyalsingh and Dr. Lisa Indar-Pandemic Fund Project Director and Director, Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control, CARPHA
Insert:
- Dr. Joy St. John, Executive Director, CARPHA (Seated Left) and Ms. Carina Cockburn (Seated Right), IDB Country Representative for Trinidad and Tobago, sign the Pandemic Fund Technical Cooperation Agreement while Dr. Lisa Indar and Dr. Mark Sami – CARPHA Directors look on.
- Minister of Health, Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. Terrence Deyalsingh attends (in person) the public signing ceremony of the Pandemic Fund Technical Cooperation Agreement between CARPHA and the IDB at the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre
How Venezuelan farmers are learning to grow and live with a devastating plant disease
In the fields of Venezuela, where the banana has been for generations a symbol of sustenance and tradition, a shadow fell across the land. In 2023, Venezuela’s National Institute of Integral Agricultural Health (INSAI) declared a phytosanitary emergency: the fungus Fusarium Tropical Race 4 (TR4) (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4; syn. Fusarium odoratissimum) had arrived in producing areas in the states of Aragua, Carabobo and Cojedes.
This fungus, considered a devastating disease of banana and plantain (Musaceae) trees, can remain in the soil for more than two decades,
threatening production and the lives of those who depend on it.
In the state of Aragua in the north of the country, the Renacer community had been growing bananas and plantains on 20 hectares since 2018. Then Fusarium arrived.
“When the disease hit, the entire plantation began to deteriorate. We refused to ‘die’ with the trees because that was our livelihood. The visits of INSAI confirmed that we had to chop down the banana trees. I cried a lot because I had worked with my banana trees for years,” recalls woman farmer, Lesbia Margarita García, with a broken voice.
In response, INSAI implemented measures to eliminate the affected plantations and improve the soil health by changing to other crops that allow agricultural production to recover. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) offered assistance by providing corn seeds, tools, biosecurity inputs and training, with teams of experts helping farmers to start again.
“Planting corn, thanks to the INSAI-FAO programme, gave us a harvest that benefited everyone. We have been improving the soil,” says Lesbia Margarita with a smile. “Now we rotate crops, observe soil health and have learned how to use natural fertilizers. Expert assistance has been key.”
The pilot project works directly with affected producers in high-risk areas, promoting alternative crops such as cereals and vegetables, delivering inputs and tools to mitigate damage and applying biosecurity measures for safe and effective containment.
“Beyond the corn received, we have already planted cassava, chili peppers, beans and pumpkin. We hope that by the end of the year [2025] we will be diversified and that each season we will have something to sell. These lands do not give up,” says Lesbia Margarita with conviction.
The Renacer community is beginning to see fruits. Their products are reaching local markets, generating income and rebuilding their livelihoods.
Key actions to manage Fusarium TR4 are ongoing, including regular monitoring, continuous training, inter‑institutional coordination,
updates to the national plan, information campaigns and producer impact assessments. INSAI is sustaining regulatory, surveillance measures and training —with FAO support—as part of a comprehensive long‑term strategy.
At the global level, FAO supports awareness raising, capacity building and international collaboration in the fight against Fusarium TR4 by facilitating the World Banana Forum and its Global Network on TR4.
“The objective is for countries to strengthen their operational and technical capacity, articulating actions between the public sector, the private sector and family farmers,” says Raixa Llauger, FAO Agriculture Officer in Mesoamerica. “FAO and local partners have promoted this approach in Venezuela.”
As an essential part of the activities, a comprehensive training programme was developed with activities that taught farmers how to identify the disease contain it and protect crops. In addition, FAO has distributed laboratory equipment, biosecurity tools and a multispectral drone to INSAI. Drones are an efficient and cost‑effective tool for phytosanitary surveillance, offering rapid, high‑resolution monitoring and early detection of plant pests and diseases.
Overall, the project strengthened biosecurity measures against the Fusarium fungus through the adoption of the National Action Plan and the establishment of partnerships with national and international institutions. In addition, the pilot initiative supporting smallholder farmers in key production areas and a nationwide awareness campaign with broad outreach improved surveillance, diagnosis and phytosanitary response capacities across the country.
MIAMI, Florida — Emotional testimony from Martine Moïse, the widow of assassinated Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, has given
jurors in a U.S. federal courtroom a chilling account of the night gunmen stormed the presidential residence and killed the country’s leader.
Martine Moïse took the stand this week in Miami as part of the ongoing trial of several men accused of helping plan and finance the July 7, 2021 assassination, a crime that plunged Haiti into political crisis and remains only partially solved.
She told the court that armed men forced their way into the president’s private home in the hills above Port-au-Prince during the early morning hours, firing multiple shots at her husband while she lay beside him. She testified that she was also wounded in the attack and survived by pretending to be dead until the gunmen left the room.
According to prosecutors, the plot involved a group of foreign mercenaries, including former Colombian soldiers, along with Haitian and
Haitian-American suspects. Investigators say some of the men believed the mission was to detain the president, but the operation turned into an assassination.
The Miami trial is focusing on the alleged role of South Florida businessmen and others accused of organizing or financing the plan, part of a wider international investigation that has stretched across several countries.
More than four years after the killing, the question of who ultimately ordered the assassination remains unanswered, with suspects still in custody in both Haiti and the United States as the case continues to unfold.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
CARIBBEAN — Jamaica has become the 13th CARICOM member state to accede to the African Export-Import Bank Establishment Agreement, further strengthening economic ties between Africa and the Caribbean.
The development was confirmed during the 50th CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting, where an Afreximbank delegation led by George Elombi and Kanayo Awani met with Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness to advance cooperation.
Prime Minister Holness thanked the bank for its support following Jamaica’s recent hurricane, noting that Afreximbank financing helped restore critical infrastructure including water, electricity, sewage systems and roads, while also assisting reconstruction efforts aimed
at building stronger resilience to future disasters.
The meeting also focused on broader development opportunities tied to Jamaica’s membership in the agreement. Discussions included rebuilding and modernising infrastructure such as railways, hospitals and other public facilities, while strengthening regional transportation and trade networks to improve the movement of people and goods across the Caribbean.
Afreximbank has been expanding its presence in the Caribbean as part of its strategy to connect Africa with the region often referred to as “Global Africa.” The bank has already committed billions of dollars in financing and trade support to Caribbean economies in recent years, including funding for infrastructure, trade facilitation and private sector investment.
By joining the agreement, Jamaica gains expanded access to Afreximbank’s financial instruments, technical support and trade networks designed to promote commerce between Africa and CARICOM states.
Regional leaders say the growing partnership could unlock new opportunities in areas such as trade, logistics, tourism, manufacturing and cultural exchange, strengthening economic cooperation between the two regions with deep historical and diaspora ties.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
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